“The significance of intersecting streets named after the icon in D.C. and Dallas lies in that it represents contrasting views on creating a better future of Black America – one of peace and nonviolence, and the other by any means necessary, said Black History expert Na’ilah Amaru.
“That these two streets are often relegated to predominately Black neighborhoods and not in the economic centers of cities, reflects America’s continued practice of divestment and its denial that Black history is American history,” she reflected.
“Streets are named after important people, and local governments control the process of street naming. It’s important to note that the government still polices the legacies of Malcolm X and MLK by deciding which of them are deserving of street recognition and where they are placed in a city’s grid,” Amaru said.
She added that it is a symbolic gesture when the government does name streets after King and Malcolm X. “Policies and resources are needed to improve the quality of life, more so than performative government acts like street naming,” she stated.
Read the full article, Is There a Larger Message Behind Intersecting Streets Named After MLK, Malcolm X?, published May 27, 2021 on washingtoninformer.com